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COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 



" 7 thought he looked like a good man." 

COLONEL THOMAS CUTIS 

SACO'S MOST EMINENT CITIZEN 
IN THE COUNTRY'S EARLY DAYS 



BOEN 1736; DIED 1821 — WEST INDIA MERCHANT, 
SHIP OWNER, FOUNDER OF INDUSTRIES — MILI- 
TARY LEADER, TOWN OFFICER, MEMBER OF 
LEGISLATURE AND OF GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL — 
A FOUNDER OF THORNTON ACADEMY AND ITS 
FIRST PRESIDENT OF TRUSTEES — OVERSEER 
OF BOWDOIN COLLEGE — FRIEND OF LEARNING 



BY 

GEORGE ADDISON EMERY 



Rkai> hefore the Maine Historical Society November 20, 1912 



SACO, MAINE 
1917 



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COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 



About 1645 there came from the west of England to the 
Isles of Shoals, at that time a great fishing resort, and then to 
Portsmouth (then called Strawberry Bank on the Piscataqua), 
two young men, John and Richard Cutt. They were joined 
later by a brother, Robert, and a sister, Anne Cutt, who 
married John Shipway, a merchant of Strawberry Bank. 

It is impossible now to say with certainty from what par- 
ticular point in England they came, or to give any positive 
statement as to their parentage. 

Traditionally, their father was Richard Cutts, Esq., of 
Grondale Al^bey, Essex County, an adherent of Cromwell; he 
married a widow })y the name of Shelton, who, it is said, by 
him and her former huslxand had twenty-three children, all 
living at the same time. The young men dropped the final 
letter in their name, calling it Cutt, when they emigrated to 
this country. 

The first brother, John, lived at Portsmouth. He became a 
member of the Council for Government of the Province, and in 
1679 he was appointed l)y the Crown its first Prcsitlent. His 
name was written Cutts in his letters-patent. John's and 
Richard's estate in Portsmouth covered two-thirds of what is 
now the compact part of the city. John's second wife was 
Ursula Cutt, who after his death was killed by the Indians in 
July, 169-4. Madam Ursula was murdered in her own meadow 
where she had gone with a maid-servant to carry refreshments 
to her men in the hay-fields, when she and her haymakers were 
shot down and scalped. 

Robert Cutt, the third brother and the great-grandfather of 
Col. Thomas Cutts, came to this country several years after 
John and Richard. He went after a time to the Barbadoes and 
was probably connected with his V)rothers in ]:)usiness, receiving 
fish and lumber, and shipping West Indies goods in return. He 
finally returned to Portsmouth, moved across the river to 
Kittery and "built a large number of vessels." 

3 



4 COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 

His son, Richard Cutt, owned and lived on Cutts Island, 
Kitteiy. Besides this large island, Richard had acquired a 
fine estate from his father (Robert) and was a man of wealth 
and repute. In the years 1694-5-7-8-9-170O-6 he served as 
selectman of Kittery. 

Major Richard Cutt, the son of Richard Cutt and the father 
of Col. Thomas Cutts, was a man of great distinction in the 
Province. In 1745, at the time of the expedition to Louisburg, 
he was commissioned Major in Sir Wm. Pepperrell's regiment. 
He was in the Legislature of Massachusetts as a Councillor 
from 1755 to 1762. He also served as special justice of the 
Court of Common Pleas, as his father did before him. His 
residence was on Cutts Island, Kittery, where he and his wife 
entertained in a truly "hospital)le and elegant manner all the 
noted men of the day." While many of the stories of his style 
of entertaining are exaggerated, there is no doubt he had a 
luxurious home for those times and entertained freely. 

On the eighth of April, 1724, he signed a petition in which 
is set forth that "A house is lately made defenceable near y^ 
head of York River, built by Mr. Robert Cutt for security 
against the Indians, and the Lt. Gov'r. is huml^ly requested to 
have six or eight soldiers posted there." Among others who 
signed it were Win. Pepperrell and Wm. Pepperrell Jr. He was 
selectman in Kittery from 1732 with few exceptions till 1776. 
He was deacon of a church and is often spoken of in old records 
as "Deacon Richard Cutt." 

Madam Wood, the first novelist in Maine, speaking of the 
time of Major Cutts, says: 

Cutts Island aiul a large tract of land in Kittery formed a domain 
almost lordly. The family resided on the Island, which was connected 
with the mainland by a drawbridge which was taken up every evening for 
the safety of the inhabitants and let down in the morning to permit the 
workmen and retainers of the estate to attend to their usual duties. They 
kept thirty cows and several hundred sheej:), and had a large old-fashioned 
house, one apartment of which was long and large enough to dine fifty or 
sixty guests. 

The arms of the Cutts with quarterings innumerable were carved over 
the immense fire-places, the mantel of which was adorned with colored 
glass and two silver branches for candles. The floor was daily rubbed 
with wax till it became like a nice mahogany table. The walls were 
ornamented with i)aintings and work of the daughters, and the six dozen 
pewter plates bore upon their edge the crest of the family. The daughters 
were sent to the best schools and taught not only dancing, music and 
embroidery, but one day in every week was devoted to the manufacture 
of cake and pastry, the latter being as light as a feather and white as snow. 

Returning from school with the daughter of Gov. Vaughan, one of the 
Miss Cutts was detained a day and two nights at Portsmouth and saw at 
the Governor's, tea for the first time. " I did not know," said she, on her 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 5 

return, "how to act, but waited until I saw Miss Vaughan turn out the 
tea and after adding sugar and cream, raise the cup to her hps and then 
I followed her example." She purchased her mother a pound of the tea, 
for which she paid a guinea, and sent to Boston for a set of China. 

When at home the young ladies assisted in spinning, attended to the 
dairy and oversaw the cooking. 

Mrs. Cutts herself always skimmed her own milk and instructed her 
dairy maids in the quantity of the rennet for the cheese. They made two 
every day and churned every morning. They kejit a pleasure boat and 
every young lady had a horse and side saddle of her own. They kept a 
steward and a butler and once a year gave a grand entertainment, to 
which only the highest were invited. 

Invitations were sent a week in advance anfl the whole week devoted 
to preparation. Extra help was secured and Billy Ball was engaged for 
the whole day with his fiddle. Flowers or jjlants from Lady Ursula's 
garden, which she had brought from England, had been set out. The 
fiddler and drummer were close by the landing to welcome the guests with 
"God Save the King." 

Madam Wood then gives a vivid account of the dinner: 

They had a pig roasted whole, called a barbecue, and fish that were 
caught and cookecl immediately, with chickens, ham and tongues, every- 
thing being raised upon the island except sugar, wine and spirits. 

On the centre of the table was a silver tub that would hold four gallons 
full of pancakes, rising from its rich and polished sides like an immense 
snowdrift, for it was covered from the base to the attic with powdered 
sugar. A floating island, representing a ship in the sea, was stationed a 
little below, etc. 

Col. Cutt, the su])ject of this paper, was for a lono- time one 
of the most eminent merchants in Maine (Folsom says), and 
from humble circumstances he, like all his ancestors in this 
country, rose to great wealth, the reward of long continued 
and successful effort. Thomas was the youngest l)ut one of 
ten children. He served a clerkship with Sir Win. Pepperrell, 
and, though very young, was entrusted with important busi- 
ness. Sir Wm's. son-in-law (Sparhawk), in letters to him, 
shows great confidence in his judgment and ability. He then 
commenced business in Kittery but was unfortunate in his 
first enterprise and about 1758 came to Saco. 

He was then twenty-two years old and had only one hundred 
dollars, which he had borrowed of his father. It is worthy of 
mention that, as soon as he was able, he paid back to his father 
what he owed him. He commenced trading in a small way, 
first in a room in Dr. White's house at the foot of Wharf Hill. 
He practised the closest economy, doing his own cooking and 
thus saving the expense of board. He had an unusual aptitude 
for business (Folsom says), and in a short time enlarged his 
capital and became engaged in lucrative and extensive trans- 
actions. 



b COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 

Indian or Bonython Island was then covered with oaks and 
was frequented by friendly Indians during the fishing season. 
At this time and long after, the river was alive with salmon, 
there being no dams or mills to trouble the free passage of fish. 
In fact, salmon were so plenty that laborers stipulated, when 
hired out, that they should not l)e required to eat salmon more 
than twice a week. 

Col. Cutt was the first to appreciate the advantages of the 
island which was afterwards named Cutt's Island and is now 
known as Factory Island. 

In 1759 he purchased a small undivided part for ninety 
dollars and soon afterwords built a small house with con- 
veniences for a store, just in the rear of the York Manufactur- 
ing Company's coal office. This is standing now. 

A bridge wns thrown across the river on the Saco side not far 
above the location of the present Alain Street crossing, and a 
ferry from Col. Cutt's established to Allen's wharf. The old 
ferry was from Sir Wm. Pepperrell's wharf and store, situated 
where the Biddeford & Saco Coal Company's coal shed is now, 
to Luques' wharf. This new arrangement shortened the ferri- 
age and became the popular route to Biddeford. 

Col. Cutt was very soon reaping the advantages of his 
judicious selection, and, in addition to the business of his store, 
engaged in shipbuilding and navigation. He was soon com- 
pelled to secure a larger store. 

His old store was occupied j^ears ago by Capt. Nathaniel 
Fernald as a sail loft and afterwards by the York Manufactur- 
ing Company as a waste house and later as a stable. 

Sir Wm. Pepperrell having come into possession of one half 
of the Island, this portion of it was purchased by Col. Cutt for 
eleven hundred dollars in 1775. This explodes the old story 
that it was purchased of the Indians for rum. He also pur- 
chased small portions of the island of Sellea and Mclntire, and 
of the Berry and Scanunan heirs. After this. Col. Cutt, Amos 
Chase, Thomas Gilpatric and Benjamin Nason built a bridge 
from the southwest side of the island to Allen's (now Luques') 
wharf, which was met with much opposition from Col. Tjaig, 
who owned the old Ferry but the people were much pleased 
with the new departure. These gentlemen passed around a 
subscription paper, a copj' of which follows and which may be 
interesting: 

Whereas a good Bridge over the Western Branch of Saco River at or 
near the phxce where the Ferry is kept, ther(> would ho greatly serviceable 
to the Pubhc and would much facilitate the Travelling to and from the 
Eastward jiarts of the Province, and whereas Benjn Nason & Thomas Gil- 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 7 

Patrick of Biddeford it Amos Chase & Thomas Cutt of Pepperrellboro, 
All in the Comity of York, hath undertaken to build the same with a 
Laudable Zeal for the Public Good — • and we the subscribers being willing 
to promote a work of so general and extensive usefulness, Do hereby for 
our selves Severally and Respectivelj^ Promise and Engage to the said 
Benjn Xason, Thomas Gilpatrick, Amos Chase & Thomas Cutt to pay 
them the particular and several sums herein affixed and carried out 
against our names hereunto subscribed with our hands, always provided 
the said Benjn Nason, Thoms Gilpatrick, Amos Chase & Thos Cutt do 
within nine months from this time give bond to the Treasurer for the 
County of York and to his successors in said office in the sum of Two 
Thousand Pounds Lawful Money that they will truly and faithfully apply 
the money, work or other articles subscribed as aforesaid and which shall 
be paid to them for the purpose of building the bridge aforesaid and that 
they will within nine months from this time proceed on the said work and 
continue the same until a good and sufficient bridge is built as aforesaid — 

And whereas there may be much money & other value given or paid to 
the said Benjn Nason, Thoms Gilpatrick, Amos Chase & Thos Cutt in a 
more private or some other manner than by a subscription that the said 
Benjn Nason, Thoms Gilpatrick, Amos Chase and Thos Cutt shall also 
become bound and obliged as aforesaid to apply what may be received in 
any manner whatever on account of said Bridge to the use aforesaid. 
Witness our hands at Biddeford Oct. 20, 1766. 

Nathaniel Sparhawk for himself & family one half when the bridge is 
begun & the other half at the Compleatuig of it One Hundred Dollars in 
the whole. 

Benj Hooper Six Pounds Thirteen Shillings 4P. 

Joseph Terbon Ten Dollars 

Samuel Seavey Ten Dollars 

William Cole One Thousand Four Inch Plank. 

John Dyer fifteen hundred of Four Lich Plank. 

There are also many other contributors of money, work, etc. 
Col. Cutt subscribed himself Twenty Dollars. 

The original subscription paper is in the possession of B. N. 
Goodale. 

This bridge (called the Proprietors' bridge) was carried 
away in the great freshet of 1785, but was promptly rebuilt by 
Col. Cutt. 

As soon as the bridge was built, Col. Cutt's business in- 
creased still more rapidly. His store became the largest and 
most successful in town, and he engaged more extensively in 
navigation and up to the time of the Revolutionary war 
carried on a very profitable lumber trade with the West Indies. 

At that time Pepperell Square and the surrounding land to 
the wharf w^as a swamp and was used as a place or yartl for the 
storage of lumber. 

It was said the Colonel netted $100,000 at one time on 
molasses, for which he had exchanged lumber, which arrived 
just after the war of the Revolution began, when the market 
was very high. 



8 COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 

r August 24, 1762, he was married by Rev. Mr. Moses Morrill 
to Elizabeth, (laughter of Dominicus Scaniman. She was born 
in March, 1745, and died Jan. 10, 1803. As there were no 
carriages in those days, Mr. C'utt and his lady rode horseback 
to the parson's, the lady on a pillion behind him, and they 
returned in the same manner. The mail carrier at that time, 
in this section at least, rode horseback, occasionally taking a 
passenger on a pillion. 

Mr. Seth Storer when a very old man (he died in Scar- 
borough) said the first four-wheeled carriage he ever saw was 
the mail coach from Portsmouth to Portland put on the route 
by Enoch Paine about 1790, twenty -eight years after Col. Cutt 
was married. In 1796 the custom of blowing the horn was 
inaugurated, to give teamsters notice to turn out for the mail. 
If not done at once, Mr. Storer said, the passengers would turn 
out and turn over the offender. Sailors and rough men enjoyed 
the fun of capsizing any one who obstructed the U. S. Mail. 
Deacon Amos Chase of Saco is said to have driven the first 
pair of wheels, a cart, from Kennebunk to Saco, prior to 1787. 
Daniel E. Owen in "Old Times in Saco" says Deacon Chase 
enjoyed the distinction of driving the first chaise from Kenne- 
bunk to Saco. Marshal Thos. G. Thornton had the first fancy 
finished chaise in Saco. 

But to return to the bride whom we left unceremoniously on 
her wedding day. She is described as a tall, well proportioned 
lady, with a strong face but not handsome. A full length 
panel picture of her and one of the Colonel are in York Insti- 
tute. Her riding hood of black satin, lined with white satin 
is also in the Institute. Mrs. C'utts was kind to the worthy 
poor and was nuicli loved by them. She was reserved and 
dignified, but very ladylike. In the painting she holds a 
snuff-ljox in her hand. 

Mr. C'utt continued to occupy the small house at the foot of 
the hill for twenty years, and all but the youngest of his chil- 
dren were born there. 

In 1782 he moved to the mansion he had l^uilt at the top of 
the hill, where Mr. Ernest L. Morrill now lives. From this 
fine location he could see his many vessels as they came in and 
went out of the harbor. Gov. Fairfield says in his "Trip to 
the Pool " that "on either side of the road fronting the mansion- 
house, were two fields formerly known under the significant 
soljriquet of the Colonel's vest pockets. One of them is now 
a brick yard, and the other is covered with factories. The 
Colonel, if permitted to revisit us, would probably be not a 
little puzzled in regard to his identity, finding his 'pockets' 




iili: o 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 9 

one with clay and bricks, the other with spindles and pretty 
girls." 

Of course all supplies or nearly all came by water in those 
days, as there were no railroads. I have been told that twenty 
or thirty vessels have been in port at one time — many of 
them making regular trips to and from Saco, and bringing 
cargoes from home and foreign ports. The noted sea captains, 
Coit, Storer and Sanuiel Hartley, commanded the Colonel's 
vessels. 

One of the first bridges across the river was known as the 
''Lottery Bridge." A commission was issued by the General 
Court to Sir Wm. Pepperrcll and others empowering them to 
set up a lottery to procure funds to build the bridge. The 
price of tickets was two dollars. The highest prize, one 
thousand dollars, was drawn by Ebenezer Ayer. 

People in those days seem to have approved of lotteries if 
the money obtained was devoted to some good object, but this 
was before Col. Cutt's day. The "Lottery Bridge" was 
washed away l:)y a freshet. Col. Cutt then built another, the 
town contributing one hundred pounds, and a toll was taken 
from strangers. This ])ridge lasted for twenty years, when he 
built again. 

He also with others built another bridge on the other side 
(towards Biddeford) as I have stated. This too was a toll 
bridge for a time. 

The Colonel was an earnest advocate of the war of the 
Revolution, although he suffered heavj^ losses thereby. 

The travel over the bridges was so light that they were 
temporarily thrown open to the public during the war. 

Mr. Cutt not only owned the Island but large tracts of land. 
He bought a portion of the Great Lot, so-called, of Sir Wm. 
Pepperrell, aliout twelve hundred acres, and also about one 
thousand additional acres of land valued by his appraisers, 
with the six houses and five barns on it, at $20,450. He also 
purchased the Pepperrell half of the saw-mill. 

He had oxen, horses, and other stock on his farms, and some 
were let at the halves. I have l)een told that one farmer's wife 
brought him at one time two little kittens, lacing one-half of 
the increase of farm stock. He owned many farms, and it was 
said he could go to Canada with his own conveyances and sleep 
in his own house every night. 

His appraisers mention eightj^-four pieces of real estate, 
appraised in all at $96,626. This valuation seems low. For 
instance, the mansion house, etc. etc. (see inventory), is 
appraised at only $6,000. In the list appear wharves and 



10 COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 

docks and stores, sawmills, mill privileges, Hilton's Island (10 
acres), 4 ■ 5ths of Stage Island, shares in Saco Boom, four pews 
in the church, etc., etc. 

He probal)!}^ built the large warehouse at the Ferry which 
was afterwards used ])y the York Manufacturing Company for 
storing cotton, and perhaps the warehouses and stores at the 
Pool occupied by his son, Capt. Thomas Cutts. 

The Colonel's personal property was appraised at $29,635.12. 
Goods and chattels and notes, etc., amounted to about $15,000. 
More were enumerated but not appraised. There wa;^ due 
him on account of French claims $90,000. This, with the 
money advanced to his childien and 7680 acres of land in Coos 
County, New Hampshire, and one hundred and five shares in 
the 10th New Hampshire Turnpike road (not in the Maine 
appraisal), would make the Colonel a wealth}- man even in 
these times. 

He also left and gave his children pieces of silver, some of 
which are treasured up by his descendants, among them being 
a dozen porringers, a dozen silver cups or tumblers, etc. When 
the British came in to the Pool, the Colonel had the silver 
buried in the ground and a young girl, called later in life Nabby 
Ridlon, was set to watch it. He also had fine mahogany furni- 
ture, some of which his descendants still own, and a pair of his 
brass andirons with his shovel and tongs are used in the fire- 
place in the Charles C. G. Thornton jNIemorial Library. 

Mr. Edward S. Moulton of Saco, clockmaker, said that for 
many years Col. Cutt was the wealthy man of Saco and 
wore the only watch in the town; that the case was worn out 
by constant use, and that the watch was consulted as fre- 
quently as if it had been the town clock. 

The Colonel first added s to his name June 22, 1768, and he 
was generally called Cutts after that time. Dr. Walter T. 
Goodale has shown me a commission running to Thomas Cutts 
as a Justice of the Peace dated July 1, 1789, which is signed by 
John Hancock "Governour and Commander in Chief." 

This commission directs him to keep the peace, cause it to 
be kept by others, and to chastise and punish all offenders 
against law. 

Another commission runs as follows: 
Colony of the 



\ SEAL i ^oloi^y of the 

( ^ ) Massachusetts Bay 



The Major Part of the Council of the Massachusetts Bay, in New 
England. 

To Thomas Cutt Esquire Greeting. 

You being appointed first Major of the third Regiment of Militia in the 
County of York whereof Tristram Jordan Esq. is Colonel, By virtue of 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 11 

the Power vested in us, We do by these presents, (reposing special Trust 
and confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct) Commission 
you accordingly, [etc., etc.] and you are yourself to follow such Orders & 
Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from the major part 
of the Council or your superior officers. 

Given under our hands and the seal of the said Colony, at Watertowne 
the Fourteenth day of February in the sixteenth year of the Reign of his 
Majesty King George the Third, Anno Domini, 1776. 

By the command of the Major Part of the Council. 
[Signed on the margin by Perez Morton D. Secry 

fifteen councillors.] 

Major Cutt made oath March 6, 1776, that he would faithfully perform 
the duties of his office before 

Tristram Jordan ( Field 
Joseph Storer \ Officers. 

Another commission in similar form signed l)y fifteen of the 
Council, dated June 9th, 1778 (at Watertown), appoints him 
Colonel of the same regiment (the Third) of Militia. This 
commission runs to Thomas Cutts. 

The Colonel was about five feet, ten inches in height and was 
fleshy. The silhouette in Mr. Owen's book is said to be a good 
likeness. 

Mr. Storer said, "He w^as a man of humor, pretty funny 
with bis men, but had a queer way of showing it. He always 
looked very serious indeed " 

Col. Cutts, as we have seen, did an enormous business. He 
had stores, vessels, saw and grist mills, toll bridges, farms, 
etc., and gave employment to a large numl^er of men. To 
facilitate all this business he, with others, organized Saco Bank 
with a capital of $100,000. This bank was first located in the 
office of Mai-shal Thomas G. Thornton (for whom Thornton 
Academy was named), who was Col. Cutts' son-in-law, having 
married his daughter Sarah, and remained there until the bank 
building was erected on the corner of Main and Pleasant 
Streets on the site now occupied by the Saco and Biddeford 
Savings Institution. The Colonel was succeeded in 1811 as 
President by Marshal Thornton, wiio held the office until his 
death, which occurred March 4, 1824. The charter expired 
in October, 1812, and a new charter was granted for $120,000. 
This expired October 1, 1831. 

At the time of the Colonel's death, he had one hundred and 
eighty shares in Saco Bank. This seems to have been almost 
a family bank, several members and connections of his famih^ 
being directors at different times, among them being Thomas 
Cutts, Thomas Cutts, Jr., T. G. Thornton, Foxwell Cutts, 
Richard Cutts, Dominicus Cutts, James B. Thornton and 
Moses Emery. 



12 COLONEL, THOMAS CUTTS 

When the Colonel retired from the presidency of Saco Bank 
in 1811, he entered into a co-partnership with Josiah Calef, a 
young iron merchant of Boston, and formed the "Saco Iron 
Works Company." This was the first manufacturinjo; com- 
pany on the island. The company was to manufacture "Hoops, 
Nail Plates, Nail and Spike Rods, Nails or Brads, Tacks and 
such other Iron work as they might thereafter think proper 
to engage in." The Colonel sold Mr. Calef one-half of a mill 
privilege for $550, subject to restrictions, and they agreed "to 
own halves and in that proportion to divide expenses, profits 
and losses." The cost of buildings and machinery, up to 
January 13, 1812, was $14,329.86. During the year imj^rove- 
ments were made amounting to $1,517.44. On June 27, 1820, 
Thomas Cutts, Josiah Calef and their associates were incor- 
porated into a company to carry on the manufacture of nails 
or any other manufacture of iron and steel in Saco, and were 
authorized to hold real estate not exceeding $50,000 and per- 
sonal not over $100,000. (Chapter 15, Special Laws of Maine 
1820.) Before this only wrought iron nails were used, which 
were made by blacksmiths antl of course were very expensive. 
The compaiiy made what are called cut nails, making (Folsom 
says) 3,500 pounds a day. This was afterward increased to 
5,500 pounds. An old gentleman has told me that tiie old nail 
factory made a great noise and clatter when running, and that 
a team of four oxen — there were no horse teams then — was 
used in carrying nails to the Ferry in the winter and ])ringing 
back iron for the company. 

It is remarkable that Col. Cutts' great-grandson should have 
married the daughter of his partner, Mr. Calef. 

In all I have written, I have spoken only of the Colonel's 
business ability. He was more than a superior business man, 
he was a good citizen. He was Selectman from 1707 to 1769, 
chairman of the board in 1771, and Town Treasurer from 1772 
to 1794. He was Representative to the Ceneral Court in 1780 
and was Councillor of Massachusetts in 1810. (It is highly 
probable that while in Boston, attending to his official duties, 
he met Josiah Calef and arranged to start the Iron Works.) 
To fill these various offices must have been a great sacrifice to 
the Colonel, as he had without them more business than one 
man ought to assume. 

When the first parish meeting house was built, Col. Cutts in 
1805 gave a bell made l)y Paul Revere and which weighed one 
thousand pounds. This church, which was dedicated Feb. 12, 
1806, was for a long time considered the largest and most 
elegant in Maine, being ninety feet long and fifty-four feet 




COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 
From a portrait in York Institute 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 13 

broad, with a spire one hundred and twentj^-six feet in height 
and costing al^out .$18,000, with massive timbers and so in- 
tricately framed that it was said no one Ijut the architect could 
put it together. Inside, it was adorned with elaborate carvings 
all done with a common pocket-knife. 

Three sides were surrounded with galleries containing pews. 
Singing seats were in a circle around and above the pulpit, 
which stood out a little in the body of the church and over 
which hung the old-fashioned sounding board suspended by 
an iron rod. In front and around the pulpit were arranged 
high panelled pews, the particular pride and comfort of the 
fathers. There was an organ, and a church clock on the wall, 
and Mr. Owen says that, best of all, in the belfry swung a 
grand bell given by Col, Cutts. In the spire of this church 
was the lantern, a room surrounded with glass. From this 
lookout could be seen Portland, the beach, and the White 
Mountains. 

The former Treasurer of Bowdoin College, Mr. McKeen, 
told me that people came long distances to see this meeting- 
house and that it was considered the finest piece of architecture 
in Maine. 

Parson Elihu Whitcomb in his dedication sermon on Febru- 
ary 12, 1806, says: 

It is a laudable desire in man to wish to live (if I may so speak) after 
he is dead ; and to perpetuate his existence in the minds of posterity by 
noble and generous deeds. So long then as this society shall here as- 
semble, so long as posterity shall here assemble, at the tone of that bell, 
the name of Cutis ought to be held in honorable remembrance. 

The church was burned on Sunday, July 8, 1860, and the 
bell melted and was destroyed, but I see no reason why the 
name of Col. Thomas Cutts should not still be held in honor- 
able remembrance. 

The bell was used on all public occasions and was tolled at 
funerals. When General Cyrus King, Senator John Fairfield, 
and other good people of Saco died, this bell announced the 
fact, and my aunt said that when Col. Cutts died it tolled all 
day. She was a little girl but remembered the long funeral 
procession. The tongue was preserved and is in York Insti- 
tute now. 

At the time of the fire Oliver Batts, the sexton, did not hear 
the alarm, and when he was told the next day that the church 
was burned, he said, "Why, no, it hasn't; I've got the key 
right in my pocket." 

Col. Cutts believed in education and petitioned, with others, 
the General Court for an Academy in Saco. He was the first 



14 COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 

petitioner, and the first incorporator in the charter, which was 
granted February 16, 1811. He was so well known and so 
highly respected that his name 
carried great weight in the Gen- /"^ -v /? 

eral Court. He was the first /J/) r^^^^'^f~/ ~ 

President of the Board of Trus- ^/j ^ (MX06 
tees and was one of the first ^ 7«^ 

and largest contributors to the 

funds. In the history of Bowdoin College at the head of 
the charter list of overseers, stand the names of the brothers 
Edward Cutts of Kittery and Thomas Cutts of Saco, "names 
at that time eminently aristocratic" as the history states. He 
was also a corporator of the Massachusetts General Hospital. 

He was very kind to the unfortunate, and when he laid 
down a barrel of beef or pork for himself, he laid down another 
for the poor. 

Mr. Seth Storer said that his boy Henry, when six or seven 
years old, saw Col. Cutts in his father's office one day. He 
afterwards asked his father if he, Col. Cutts, "was not a very 
good man. I thought he looked like a good man." The boy 
was right; he was a good man in every sense of the word. 

In a letter to his son, Capt. Thos. Cutts, Jr., March 7, 1792, 
the Colonel concludes, "I hope this will find you and your 
crew in a good state of health, and that your conduct will be 
such as to meet the approbation of your Divine Master." 

The Colonel was fortunate in having a good wife, and their 
children in having an affectionate mother. 

If the Academy had been chartered and the admirable 
public school system we have today in Saco had been estab- 
lished, I have no doubt that the Colonel, using the same good 
judgment he showed all through his life, woukl have educated 
his children at home. 

But there were no such schools in the (Colonel's day. In- 
deed, as late as 1809, the Kennel)unk Gazette has a standing 
advertisement, "Teacher wanted," etc., showing that it was 
difficult to secure an instructor. So the Colonel and his wife 
sent their boys to Andover Academy, and his son Richard 
(afterwards Member of Congress) then went to Harvard 
College, and their daughters were educated in Boston. 

Among Mr. Benjamin N. Goodale's treasures is a letter 
from Mrs. Cutts to her son Thomas which is as follows: 

" Poiiperrello Jaiiy. IS, 1785. 
Dear Thos. 

I am favored with an opportunity to write you, by Mr. Gray. I wish 
you to write nie particularly on Mr. Gray's return. Your papa, brothers, 




MADAM ELIZABETH CUTTS 
From a portrait in York Institute 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS , 15 

sisters & all friends here are well. I hope you, your brother & all ac- 
quaintances at Andover ar(> the same. 

You may enquire of Mr. Gray, the particulars respecting an addition 
of a new elder brother who has taken your second sister and is to carry her 
soon to Berwick to reside where you will call and put up as you come home 
in j'our vacation. Bring us accounts of how it fareth with them — in the 
mean time improve yoiu- mind by a careful attention to yoiu- studies — 
and dare to excel in Learning that when your papa and I do see you we 
may have the comfort to behold part of a promising offspring. My 
respects to your Preceptor, regards to Mr. & Mrs. Abbott. Love to you, 
well wishes to all. I remain 

Your tender & affectionate 

mama, Eliz'i Cutts. 

Mr. Goodale also has a receipt which reads as follows: 

Received of Mr. Cutts fourteen pounds fovn-teen shillings in full for 
one Quarter's board & Instruction of Miss Eunice ended the loth ult. 
including 6£ Stationery 12£ cash lent and a rise of 4£ per week on the 
board occasioned by great advances on rent etc. etc. 

Eleanor Druitt. 

The young ladies wrote a beautiful hand, and showed great 
respect for their parents, as the following letters from the 
Colonel's daughteis show: 

Honrfi Papa, 

I have so much anticipated the felicity of seeing my D"" Mama & your- 
self on your return home, that being deprived that pleasure, I call it a 
great disappointment. I am exceedingly anxious to know how you sir 
& mama got home & whether the cancer is got better, as I hope it is 
entirely eradicated. 

I have been to get the Coat Arms prepared for working, and Mr. Gore 
shewed me two Arms by the name Cutts, the one belonging to a Family 
from London, and the other from Chelsey, both Arms different; and 
Papa as j'ou chuse I should work your Arms, I should be fond of making 
no mistake (t of working the right, if your business permitted your letting 
me know by name the right one, it would be sufficient, without fiu'ther 
trouble, as my utmost abilities shall be exerted to please Mama & yoiu'self 
sir in the working. I am surprised at Sister's silence I shall only add that 
if her sentiments correspond with mine, I should not want the addition 
of a partial affection, to give weight to what I say — It will always give 
me unsjx'akable delight to hear from all the family as I shall ever be 
interested in what concerns them. 

Be pleased sir to offer my dutiful compliments to Mama and accept 
the same yourself — with love to Brothers & Sisters — Believe me to be 

Your dutiful Daughter, 
Boston Elizabeth Cutts. 

April 22nd 1783. 

[The Cutts Coat of Arms worked in silk, in York Institute, 
was doubtless made by Miss Elizabeth. Her husband Rich- 
ard was a long-time member of General Court.] 



16 COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 

Hoard Papa & M ama, 

I imbrace this favorable opportunity of acquainting you I am perfectly 
well & very happily situated. 

Give me leave to assure my dear Papa & Mama it shall be my constant 
study to make improvements sufficient to compensate for all the touble 
<S^ expenses I am sensible I put you both to. I shall be extremelv obliged 
to my dear Mama to be so kind as to send me a skirt & some stockiiitis, 
anything from Mama will be gratefully received from her loving daughter. 

I have nothing more to add but to request my love to brothers and 
sisters. Mr. & Mrs. Druitt desires their most respectful compliments 
to you both. 

Believe me to be with the greatest respect & esteem, 

Your ever dutiful and obedient daughter 

Newburyport, Mary Cutts. 

Novr 9, 1779. 

[Mary Cutis married Samuel Abbott.] 

Honrd & Dear Mama, 

I never was much happier than as I was sitting thinking of you, my Dr 
Papa and the family to be agreeably surprised by Capn Tarbox who gave 
me every information of the dearest family on earth, and presented me 
with one pair blankets, some green baize & some money. Likewise in- 
formed Mrs. Druitt (who desires most respectful compliments to Papa 
and yourself Madam) of Coffee and Sugar for her. I work and mean to 
exert my utmost industry early and late, to accomplish my work with 
other things to sit and enjoy the pleasure of my dear parents company the 
greatest pleasure this world can afTord. 

Mama be pleased to present my most dutiful respects to my dear Papa 
& thank him for all his kind attention to his absent daughter & be pleased 
Madam to accept my most grateful thanks for all yours. 

Be so good as to make my love to my brothers and sisters & Believe me 
Honrd Mama 

Your most Obliged and 
Obedient Daughter 
to Command, 
Boston, Jan. 14, 1792. Sarah Cutts. 

[Sarah married Dr. Thos. G. Thornton, Marshal of Maine.] 
Mrs. Cutts made a pall for the town. This was a large 
black cloth used to cover a coffin at funerals. A table was 
covered with a white cloth which reached to the floor. The 
coffin was placed upon thi.^, and the pall covered the coffin. 
The bier was just outside the door. Sometimes they had four 
honorary pall l^earers holding the four corners of the pall — 
one at each corner, and the under bearers carried the bier. 
They had no hearses in those days. The remains were borne 
by the bearers to the grave, the grave filled and the bier left on 
top of the grave till the next funeral. 

Col. Cutts however had a tomb in the old burying ground 
in the rear of the Unitarian Meeting House. 




CUTTS ARMS 
Original, embroidered in colors, is in Yorl< Institute 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 17 

Benjamin Simpson in his Journal Nov. 24, 1796, says, 
"Thursda}' digging tomb for Col° Cutt." Then a number of 
entries till Saturday, October 28, 1797, "Laid Bricks Col. 
Cutts tomb." "Monday to Falls took up the remains of 
Samuel Abbott & his wife, and a child of Dr. Thornton's and 
deposited them in a tomb of Col. Cutts." 

After Mrs. Cutts died, a queer letter was sent to their 
daughter. Miss Eunice Cutts. On account of the quaintness 
and the evident sincerity of the writer, a copy of the letter 
follows : 

To Col. Cutts Family, 

Please to accept an imperfect tho' sincere tribute of Respect to the 
memory of the deceased who was placed in the Golden Candlestick in this 
family and whose light hath shone to Distant Climes. 

As sympathy is a tender love in the Human Breast we weep with those 
that weep. 

Please to wink at imperfection and except the sincerity of a Friend to 
this family. 

Freeman Harvey. 

As I have intimated, Mrs. Cutts was a model wife and 
mother, and her death was a great loss to her husband and 
family. 

After their l)oys had been educated, the Colonel took them 
into partnership, and they went to sea as captains in his 
vessels, and he assisted them in other ways. 

April 18, 1814, he sent word to his son, Capt. Thomas, at 
the Pool that he should move his vessels up river out of danger, 
but the captain l)elieved there was no danger, until the English 
frigate Bulwark came into the Pool, set fire to the hull of a new 
ship valued at S8,000, cut a second worth $7,000 to pieces, and 
carried away another, which Capt. Cutts ransomed for $6,000 
but which was afterwards lost at sea. 

Foxwell Cutts, Esq., the oldest son of Col. Cutts, was 
largely engaged in navigation for several years previous to the 
war. His large and costly ships were profitably employed in 
freighting large cargoes to various parts of the world. 

Mr. Cutts built at that period the large mansion-house after- 
wards occupied l)y Marshal Thornton. 

The reception to Lafayette was in this house, as was prob- 
ably the one to President Monroe. It was at the corner of 
Main Street and Thornton Avenue and was afterwards a 
hotel called the Thornton House. It was l:)urned January, 
1851. 

This son, Foxwell, afterwards failed in business and died 
June 6, 1816, aged fifty-one years. 



18 COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 

The Colonel bought and gave his widow the house and lot 
on High Street now owned by Charles H. Hanson. 

Foxwell's first wife was Sarah Scamman. After her death, 
he married Hannah D. Page. 

The second son, Thomas Cutts, Jr., was a sea captain and 
a successful merchant at the Pool. He married Elizabeth 
Hight and afterwards Mary, the daughter of Hon. Orchard 
Cook, M.C., who was called "the belle of the East," on account 
of her beauty and accomplishments. 

Richard was a member of Congress and married Anna 
Payne, a sister of President Madison's wife. 

Dominicus was a sea captain and married Polly Chadbourne. 

Maiy married Samuel Abbott. 

Elizabeth married R. F. Cutts. 

Eunice married Major Samuel Nye. 

Sarah married Marshal Thomas G. Thornton. 

Although the Colonel had eight children and all, as I have 
stated, were married, no direct descendants by the name of 
Cutts on the male side now live in Saco. 

"Nothing remains of the old time but the mansion of Col. 
Cutts on the crest of the hill, which has defied the storms of 
twelve decades and promises to stand a long time yet. It was 
built to stay, as anyone may see from its massive timbers. 

"Like his other property it has passed from the family 
possession, but is regarded with a pride which is shared by 
every old citizen who holds antiquities and solid work in 
respect." 

The two houses this side of the mansion were the Colonel's 
smoke house and wash house which have been converted into 
dwelling houses. 

In concluding, I will copy a portion of the Colonel's will, 
which is characteristic of the man. He gave bis children 
$81,341 in his life-time, as you may see. 

Whereas I Thomas Cutis of Saco, Esquire, have heretofore advanced to 
my children sums of money, hinds and other property which it was my 
intention should be considered, computed, and charged to them and to 
the heirs of such of my children as should die before me as part of their 
respective shares in my estate on the final adjustment and settlement 
thereof after my decease and it being my desire to do equal and exact 
justice to all mj- children and to the heirs of such as are dead without 
favour or partiality and as far as in my power to j^revent all uncnisiness 
and controversies among my heirs in the division of my estate, as well as 
to promote peace and harmony among them, I therefore do will and 
ordain that the somes hereinafter mentioned shall be deemed and taken 
as advancements by settlement made by me in my lifetime to my 
children respectively and to tlie heirs of such of my children as are now 
deceased . 



COLONEL THOMAS CUTTS 19 

Firstly, I have advanced to my daughter Mary Abbott in her Ufetime 
and to her children and heirs since her decease money and personal estate 
to the full and just value of Eleven Thousand One Hundred and Seventy- 
two Dollars ($11,172). 

Secondly, I have advanced to my sone Foxwell Cutts in his lifetime, 
mone>, personal estate and paid debts for him to the full and just value 
of Thirty Thousand One Hundred and Sixty Dollars not including my 
indorsements for him at Saco Bank ($30,160). 

Thirdly, I have advanced to my daughter Elizabeth Cutts in her 
lifetime Two Thousand Dollars viz : — ■ Eight Hundred Dollars in Furni- 
ture and Twelve Hundred Dollars in cash ($2,000). 

Fourthly, I have advanced to my son Thomas Cutts Jr. money and 
personal & real estate to the full and just value of $6,807, viz: in vessels 
and money $6,807. 

Fifthly, I have advanced to my son Richard Cutts money «fe personal 
& real estate to the full and just value of $7,257, in vessels, lands & money. 

Sixthly, I have advanced to my daughter Sally Thornton money and 
personal and real estate to the full and just value of $7,800 — ($7,800). 

Sennthly, I have advanced to my son Dominicus Cutts money & 
personal & real estate to the full and just value of $3,167 — (in the Her- 
cules & in money, $3,167). 

Eightly, I have advanced to my daughter Eunice Nye money & 
personal & real estate to the full and just value of $14,878, viz: in Furni- 
ture, House & Money $14,878. 

Now therefore for the purpose of fulfilling my said intention as herein- 
before expressed I do give, devise and bequeath after my decease, my just 
debts etc. being first paid, all my estate real, personal & mixed to my 
children and their heirs, and to the children and heirs of such as are 
deceased to have & to hold to them and their respective heirs for their own 
use forever in the same shares and proportions as they respectively would 
bj' law have been entitled to in case I had died intestate. Subject how- 
ever to the before mentioned several advancements, and to such further 
advancements, as I may hereafter make to them or either of them and 



charge them with. 



Thomas Cutts. 



[Dated July 6, 1816. Witnessed by Wm. P. Preble, I. Lane, Daniel 
Granger.] 

Colonel Cutts died Jantiary 10, 1821. 

His remains antl those of his wife have been removed from 
his tomb and buried on the lot of his grandson, Hon. Joseph T. 
Nye, on Pine Avenue, Laurel Hill Cemetery', Saco, and stones 
to their memory have been erected by Mrs. Caroline Augusta 
(Thornton) Batchelder, his granddaughter. 



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